Knowledge centre
Euro sizes and warehouse compatibility
The 1200 x 800 footprint is not simply “smaller”. It changes how many pallets fit a beam, how a trailer loads and how a container fills — sometimes in your favour, sometimes not.
The European formats, for orientation
| Format | Deck size | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Euro-format (EPAL 1) | 1200 x 800 mm | The format we supply. Height 144 mm on EPAL 1. |
| Half Euro | 800 x 600 mm | Half the footprint; common in retail display work. Not part of our range. |
| Quarter Euro | 600 x 400 mm | Display and picking format. Not part of our range. |
| Industrial / UK standard | 1200 x 1000 mm | A different footprint entirely. We do not supply it. |
These are listed for orientation only. We supply the 1200 x 800 Euro footprint and nothing else — see the range.
What to check before you commit
Racking
Beam length, upright depth and how many pallets you intend to place per bay decide everything. The Euro footprint is 800 mm deep, so a rack designed around a 1000 mm deep pallet will leave the pallet unsupported at the front or back unless it is oriented and supported correctly. Check with your racking supplier or a competent inspector: support conditions change load behaviour, and no figure from a pallet page substitutes for that.
Trailer loading
The Euro footprint's two orientations are the whole game. Loading pallets across the trailer versus along it changes how many fit, how tightly, and how much void you are paying to move. Work it out on paper for your specific trailer internal width before assuming a saving.
Containers
Container internal dimensions are unforgiving, and the residual gap after a row of Euro pallets differs from the gap after industrial pallets. Where the fit is tight, unsecured voids become a load-restraint problem rather than merely an efficiency one.
Height, which everyone forgets
An EPAL 1 pallet is 144 mm tall before anything is loaded onto it. Multiply that by the number of tiers you are planning and check it against your beam clearance or trailer internal height. See the EPAL 1 reference specification for the figures and their conditions.
Automation and conveyors
Conveyors, transfer cars and shuttle systems are specified around a footprint and around dimensional consistency. If you are running automated handling, ask about consistency before grade — this is a common reason to look at plastic Euro pallets.
Mixed estates
Running two footprints in one building is workable but costly in space, training and errors. If you are migrating to Euro-format, plan the transition rather than letting it happen gradually through purchasing decisions.
No load figures for your racking
We will not state what a pallet will carry in your racking. Support conditions, load distribution and pallet condition decide that, and it is a question for your racking supplier or a competent inspector.
Send us your constraints
Beam lengths, trailer internal width, tiers and goods weight. We will tell you plainly whether the Euro footprint suits — including when it does not.
Request a quote